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| Source: | Find a Tender Service (FTS) |
| Notice Type: | Tender notice |
| Buyer: | Kent County Council |
| Main Category: | Services |
| Procurement Method: | Competitive flexible procedure |
| Tender Status: | Open |
| Estimated Value (ex. VAT): | £171,770,238 |
| Estimated Value (inc. VAT): | £171,770,238 |
| Release Date: | 5 June 2026 |
| Application Deadline: | 15 July 2026 |
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| Call-off method: | Both: direct call-off and mini-competition |
Kent County Council (the Council) is seeking Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered Homecare Service Providers (referred to in this notice as Tenderers) to deliver care and support to Children and Adults living within the geographical boundary of Kent, including Adults who may require homecare services while residing in prison settings. Tenderers must be CQC registered Providers and comply with the requirements of the Invitation to Tender, including the requirements on the location of a Tenderer’ s Registered Office as set out in the Procurement Specific Questionnaire, to tender for this opportunity. Tenderers are referred to the Invitation to Tender documentation for full details. The Council is establishing the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme, and invites Tenderers who can deliver safe, high‐quality, personalised, and flexible care within both home and community environments across Kent. An open framework scheme allows for the award of successive frameworks on substantially the same terms. This notice relates to the opportunity to apply to be admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework of the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme. The First Kent Homecare Open Framework requires successful Tenderers to deliver high-quality care and support services that promote safety, dignity, independence and overall wellbeing for Individuals. Services should be tailored to reflect each Individual’s personal circumstances, ensuring a personalised and needs-led approach. Subject to satisfying the Council’s requirements for admittance to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework as set out in the Invitation to Tender documentation, there is no limit on the number of successful tenderers that may be admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework. Provision should be collaborative in nature, supporting effective partnership working to ensure that Individuals accessing care and support receive services that enhance their quality of life. This includes delivering flexible and responsive support that reflects each Individual’s unique requirements, enabling them to live as independently as possible while achieving positive outcomes. Existing homecare packages delivered to Individuals for both adults and children, are excluded from the scope of this procurement. The Services procured under the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme and any framework agreements awarded during the scheme are ‘light touch’ and are governed by the rules relating to light touch contracts under the Procurement Act 2023. The Council intends, but is in no way obliged to, re-open the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme on the second anniversary, the fourth anniversary and the sixth anniversary, where the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme continues for the full term of 8 years. The estimated values set out in this Tender Notice are on the basis that the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme continues for 8 years. The Council does not guarantee that the framework will continue for the full term of 8 years. The estimated value of the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme over the 8-year term is £688m (inclusive of VAT) but this estimate is purely indicative and is subject to amendment prior to the publishing of any future Tender Notices and associated tender documentation. The estimated value of this First Kent Homecare Open Framework is £172m (inclusive of VAT). No guarantee is given as to the actual value of any framework agreement under the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme, or any call-off contracts entered under any framework agreement. Any estimated values contained in this Tender Notice or associated procurement document are by no means a commitment to spend. The organisation of local government is undergoing reform and the Council anticipates a change to the responsibilities of the delivery of social care in the administrative area of Kent County Council. As such, notwithstanding that this Tender Notice states that only the Establishing Party may use this framework, Tenderers should note that the First Kent Homecare Open Framework and Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme can be used by the Council on its own behalf and on behalf of any successor body of the Council, or Contracting Authority that delivers Adult’s and Children’s social care services in the geographical area of Kent County Council during the term of the Kent Homecare Open Framework Scheme. The Council has duly considered the use of lots and has divided this procurement as below: Lot 1 – Homecare for Adults Service, which includes Lot 1 Additional Services – Care and Support in the Prison Setting Lot 2 – Community Support Services for Children Lot 1 Additional Services – Care and Support in the Prison Setting are call-off may only be delivered by a successful Tenderer who has been admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework for Lot 1 – Homecare for Adults Services and has submitted the required information to be eligible in their Tender Response in compliance with the Invitation to Tender documentation to be awarded Lot 1 Additional Services. The Council may either direct award the Lot 1 Additional Services to a tenderer which has been admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework for Lot 1 – Homecare for Adults Services or require eligible Tenderers to participate in a further mini competition to bid for Lot 1 Additional Services. Tenderers are referred to the Invitation to Tender (ITT) for full details. The Council is seeking to award multiple contracts for each of the Lots. Application is via the Council's e-sourcing system, which is accessible here: https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3F67A7S89Y (You may also search the project under the ‘Response Manager’ tab on Delta using the access code ‘3F67A7S89Y’.) If you experience any technical difficulties accessing the ITT, then please contact the Delta eSourcing Helpdesk on call 0800 923 9236 or email helpdesk@delta-esourcing.com
Lot 1 Homecare for Adult Services provides practical, day-to-day to care and support to help Individuals over the age of 18 years of age remain safe, independent, and well in their own homes. It covers essential personal care tasks such as washing, dressing, grooming, continence care and oral hygiene and helps those who require assistance with personal daily living activities but do not require clinical interventions delivered by health professionals. Successful Tenderers admitted to this Lot may support with medication prompting and other basic health related tasks where these are ancillary to social care needs, while all clinical or prescribed treatments remain the responsibility of NHS services. The lot also includes assistance with nutrition and hydration, meal preparation, and help with eating and drinking, alongside evening and night settling routines. Wider support extends to safeguarding awareness, community access, essential errands, and maintaining a habitable home environment through light domestic tasks carried out as part of a regulated care call. Carers are expected to follow all manual handling and equipment plans and to identify early signs of health deterioration, ensuring timely referrals to health professionals and notifications to the Council. Tenderers are referred to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework documentation for full details.
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Application Deadline
15 July 2026
40 days left
Estimated Value
£171,770,238
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| 9 July 2026 |
| Contract Start Date: | 7 April 2027 (Estimated) |
| Contract End Date: | 7 April 2029 (Estimated) |
| Contract Duration: | 2.0 years |
| Procurement ID (OCID): | ocds-h6vhtk-06af39 |
| Notice Reference: | 053563-2026 |
Lot 1 Additional Service - Care and Support in the Prison Setting delivers essential personal care and support to Prisoners within the Sheppey Prison Cluster (HMP Elmley, HMP Standford Hill, HMP Swaleside) and the Additional Prisons (HMP Maidstone and HMP Sutton Park), helping Individuals to maintain independence and dignity whilst in custody. The service focuses on regulated social care tasks aligned to assessed Care Act needs, including personal care, mobility support, nutrition, continence care, and safe daily living, delivered exclusively as doublehanded care to ensure safety and compliance within a secure environment. Care/Support Workers must complete full HMPPS vetting and prison-specific training, operate within restricted access times, and work in close partnership with the Council’s Social Care Prison Team and the onsite Healthcare Supplier, who remain responsible for clinical and medical tasks. The successful Tenderer will be required to deliver up to 98 block hours of care each week and the service supports continuity, safety, and wellbeing under highly controlled conditions and ensures that vulnerable Adults in custody receive the same standard of social care as those in the community. Only Tenderers who are successfully admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework for Lot 1 - Homecare for Adult Services and have complied with the requirements of the Invitation to Tender documentation (including expressing an interest in providing the Additional Service - Care and Support in a Prison Setting), will be able to participate in any mini-competition or direct for this service conducted in accordance with the First Kent Homecare Open Framework. The Council intends that a single block contract is awarded to one Supplier by either mini competition or direct award. The anticipated value of the Lot 1 Additional Service - Care and Support in a Prison Setting is £250,238 ([inclusive] of VAT). The Lot 1 value stated in this Tender Notice is the combination of the Lot 1 Homecare for Adult Services and the Lot 1 Additional Service - Care and Support in a Prison Setting.
Lot 2 - Community Support Services for Children provides personalised, flexible care and community-based support for Disabled Children and Young People aged 0-18, enabling them to live safely at home, develop skills, and participate fully in family and community life. The service includes regulated personal care, delegated health tasks, behaviour support, support with daily routines, and assistance with accessing education, leisure, and community activities. Support is delivered across three levels - Standard, Complex, and Crisis based on assessed need, and may include daytime, evening, weekend, or overnight provision. Tenderers are required to deliver Standard and Complex support as a minimum to be eligible to be admitted to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework. Tenderers must deliver care in line with each child's Child/Young Person Plan, operate within CQC regulatory requirements for Disabled Children and Young People's personal care, and work closely with families, Social Workers, schools, and health professionals to promote independence, safeguard wellbeing, and achieve meaningful outcomes. The service places the child's voice, dignity, and aspirations at the centre of planning, and plays a key role in early intervention, preventing family breakdown, and preparing young people effectively for adulthood. Tenderers are referred to the First Kent Homecare Open Framework documentation for full details.
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